Gas-washer.



PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905.

P. MEEHAN.

GAS WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25. 1904.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

INVENTOR. flahm/ WITNESSES. I fi. MM A4. /W

PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905.

P. MEEHAN. GAS WASHER.

APPLICATION I'ILEI) APR. 25, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

P. MEEHAN. GAS WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

4-; a-mg 72-2 WITNESSES. mvzufon.

PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905.

Patented March 14, 1905.

PATE T I OFFICE.

PATRICK EEHAN. or LOWELLVILLE, ouio.

GAS-WASHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,748, dated March14, 1905. i Application filed April 25, 1904- Serial No. 204,782.

To all whom; it mag concern.-

Be it known thatI, PATRICK MEEHAN, a resident of Lowellville, in thecounty of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Gas-Washers; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to gas washers or scrubbers; and its object is toprovide a device of this kind which is simple of construction, notliable to get out of order or repair,

easy to clean, and which will thoroughlyremove the impurities from thegas and afterward dry the same.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure1 is aside elevation of my improvedwasher. Fig.

- 2 is a vertical section therethrough. Fig. 3 is an end elevationthereof. Figs. 4, 5, and ,6 are horizontal sections taken, respectivelyon the lines 4 4, 5 5, and 6 6 on Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a verticalsectiontaken on the line 7 7, Figf2. Fig. 8 is a detail of the spray-pipe, andFig. 9 is a detail of one of the spiral plates.

My gas-washer is constructed entirely of plate or similar metal, nobrickwork or the like being used. The construction is such that the dirtcan find no lodgment, but will be washed down and deposited in the base,which is so constructed that it can be readily cleanedwithoutjinterfering with the continuous operation ofthe washer.

The washer comprises two vertically-arranged chambers 1 and 2, whichpreferably are cylindrical in cross-section, although this shape is notessential. These chambers are connected at their bottoms by a horizontalchamber 3, the lower portion of which is substantially trough-shaped.The gas-inlet is through a port 4 at the top of the chambei; 1 and thegas-outlet through a port 5 at the top of the chamber 2. The course ofthe gas is downwardly through the chamber 1, across through the chamber3, and upwardly through the chamber 2.

Extending downwardly through the center of the :ham'oer 1 is aperforated spray-pipe -7, having a connection at its upper end to asupply-pipe 8 and being provided with a regulating or cut-off valve 9 inthis connection. The openings 10 in this spray-pipe preferably slopedownwardly, as shown in Fig. 8, so that the sprays of water will begiven a downward direction. The perforations are arranged all around thepipe,so as to spray the water in all directions,and sufiiciently closetogether to insure the spraying of all the gas.

Arranged in the chamber 1 are a series of funnel or basin shapedbaffle-plates 12, alternatingwith aseries of cone-shaped baflleplates13. The basin-shaped. baffle-plates have their outer edges secured tothe walls of the chamber 1, and said plates project downwardly andinwardly toward the center of the chamber, thus forming annulardownwardlysloping walls. The cone-shaped bafile-plates 13 are placedwith their apices upwardly and substantially at the center of thechamber with their walls projecting downwardly and outwardly. These cone-shaped plates are supported from the wallsof the chamber by suitablearms or brackets 15. The spray-pipe -7 extends downwardly substantiallythrough the centersof the openings in the baflle-plates 12 and throughthe apices of the plates 13.

,When the gas enters the chamber 1, it expands somewhat in the enlargedupper portion thereof, thus causing it to lose its velocity andpermitting the heavier impurities to fall. The gas is then againcontracted to pass through the first basin-shaped plate 12, below whichit again expands, thus depositing more of the dirt. It is then againcontracted to pass around the outer edge of the first coneshapedbafiEle-plate 13, again expands underneath the same, is again contractedby the next basin-shaped plate, again expands underneath the same, andso oncontinuousl y until it leaves the bottom of the chamber 1. In itscourse downwardly through this chamber, therefore, the gas is subjectedto a series of expansions and contractions, thus causing the sametoseparate repeatedly and insuring the depositing or falling down ofpractically all of the impurities in the gas. As no part of the interiorsurfaces of the chamber are free from water, theimpurities will bethoroughly saturated as soon as they drop, and thus prevented fromagain'rising. The spray from the pipe? not only permeates the gas, butfalls upon the sloping surfaces of the various batlie-plates, from whichit falls down in thin sheets to the plate next below. The-course of thegas is such that it must pass through-these sheets of water, and in thatway it becomes thoroughly washed.

As many bailie-plates will be arranged in the vertical chamber as willbe found necessary. In the drawings three basin-shaped plates and twocone-shaped plates are shown; butthis number obviously can be varied asnecessary or desired. I

Thegas maybe quite hot when it first enters the chamber 1. To preventoverheating the head or the chamber, ll place an inner plate 17underneath the head and in quite close proximity thereto. The plate willbe supported by suitable brackets; so that its edges will not touch thewalls of the chamber. Several of the openings 10 of the spray-pipe willbe above this'in'ner plate 17, so that a thin sheet of water willconstantly ilow'over said plate and drop down'around the edges thereof,thus keeping said plate and the head of the chamber cool.

In the horizontal chamber 3 are arranged a series of verticalscrubber-plates 20, which extend longitudinally of said chamber andbetween which the gas must pass in its course from the chamber 1 to thechamber 2. EX-

tending transversely across the topof these scrubber-plates are a numberof spray-pipes 21, three such pipes being shown,-although the number maybe varied. These pipes are provided with openings extending downwardlyand in opposite directions, so as to direct sprays between the plates20, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. This keeps the surfaces of thescrubber-plates thoroughly moistened, and

as they are set quite close together the gas will come in contacttherewith and have removed from it any impurities which may-have escapedthe washing process in the vertical chamber 1.

The horiaontal pipes 21 receive their supply of water, some from thevertical pipe 7 in-the' chamber 1 and others from a pipe 23, extendingcentrally through the chamber 2 and con-.

nected at its upper end to the supply-pipe 8 and having in theconnection a controllingval've 24. Suitable regulating-valves will alsobe supplied in the connections with the horizontal'pipes 2l.

In the lower portion of the chamber 2 are arranged a series ofbafie-plates-26, which extend radially from the center to the outerwalls thereof, as shown in Fig-5, These plates have a spiral trend, asindicated in Figs.

- gas and separate it.

plates are shown arranged vertically'over each 2 and 9, so as to give aspiral motion to the Three such series of other, although only one oreven more than :three series might-be employed ifnecessary..

These plates have their outer edges provided with flanges 27 forriveting to the walls of thechamber 2. Theupper edgesof the top gas.ranged a drier, which consists or two heads 7 port 5.

rsarae series of plates are curved over to one side,

opposite'side-isriveted a sinrilarcurved plate =as-shown at 28',while-along said-edges on the 29, thus forming downwardly-directedtroughs down the same, and as the gas is: given agspiral trend betweenthe plates. practical-lyiallportions thereof will come in contact'withthese plates. In this way any iinpuritieswwhich may still remain in thegas will be removed. The curved upper edges of the -plates will arrestany water that might flow upwardly with the gas. For most gases,however, the-scrubbers in the vertical chamber 1 andhorizontal chamber 3wills'ufice to removeiall' the impurities, and in that case the verticalpipe-23 will not be perforated or at least will'not'be supplied withwater. The bafierplatesfifi then" act as drying-plates to condense'themoisture carried forward with the gas, the

curved upper edges of theplatesia'rresting any-water that might flowupwardly-with the Above these spiral hams-plates is ar- 30, extendingtransversely acrossthechamber and having extendingtherethrough a seriesof tubes 31, through whichthe gasunust flow. These tubes of-themselveswillact te condense any moisture that may be in thegas; but when byreason of the great impurities ofithegas the .bafieplates 26 are used-asscrubbers rather than driers it is preferred to heat the tubes 31, so asto moreieficiently dry the gas. This is accomplished by circulatingsteam around the tubes31 between the heads-30,- as

can be conveniently done by providing a steam-inlet 32 and asteam-outlet 33 tor t-he spacebetween the heads 30. In addition to thisdriera steam or other heated jacket 35 may beprovided in the'outlet-pipefrom the All of the scrubbing and drying surfacesare ofmetal and-have smooth surfaces which slope downwardly, and 'there is noplace-Ion which dirt or anything else can lodge. The dirt-is washed downinto the "chamber ganddeposited," together with the water, .in' thelower-portion thereof. is" maintained' by' providing in thewall at oneend an ,opening 36, which leads to aprojecting portion 37, provided withan overflow-pipe 38; whereby the level of the water is -always'maintained at substantially the same level.

The opening-366s: adapted to :be :entirelyaor The water-level inithechamber 4 partially closed by a vertically-movable gate- 40, Whiohmay beraised andlowered in any suitable manner, asby means of cords or chains41, secured to suitable winding-drums 42 on a shaft 43, which in turn iscontrolled from a hand-wheel44, having connected thereto a suitabledrumconnected by a chain or cord &5 with a similar drum on the shaft 43. Thegate 40 will be set at such a height as to maintain a seal at theopening 36 and prevent the escape of gas. Through the opposite end ofthe chamber 3 project aseriesof nozzles 48, three such nozzles beingshown; but obviously, a larger number might be employed. These nozzlesare connected to any suitable source of water-supply and supply jets ofwater practically horizontally in the chamber 3. These jets are appliedat the surface of the water in said chamber and are directed toward theopening 36 at the opposite end. As a consequence any light dirt orimpurities that float on top of the water willbe blowntoward the opening36 and out through the same to'the overflow-pipe 38. This keeps thesurface of the, water clean, so that any impurities that drop into thesame will be immediately saturated and prevented from again rising.Should froth or similar light matter accumulate on top of the Water andnot be able to pass underneath the gate 1O, the latter may .be slightlyraised at intervals, so as to permit such light matter to escape. Thesprays from the nozzles 48 also create a current which assists the gasin its flow through the scrubber.

The heavier particles of impurities settle down in the trough-likebottom of the chamber 3. This bottom is provided with one or morefunnels or hoppers 50, closed by bellvalves 51. The latter may beoperated in any suitable way, such as being supported on thecounterweighted levers 52, controlled from the rods 53, as will bereadily understood. These valves will be opened at intervals to permitof the flushing out of the apparatus; When this is done, the gate 40will be lowered to entirely close the opening 36 and seal the latter.Then the valves 51 will be opened, permitting all of the water and dirtin the base of the device to be washed out. The sprays of water comingdown through the various spray-pipes will thoroughly flush out the same,and this can be done without stopping the flow of gas through theapparatus. If

necessary, a hose or scraper may be-introduced into the chamber tofacilitate cleaning. The overflow and dirt fall down into a suit 7 ablegutter or sewer, such as 55, and all of the spray pipes have connectedto them downwardly-projecting flushing-pipes 56, provided with suitablecontrolling valves 57 so that whenever necessary any dirt whichmayaccumulate in the lower ends of these pipes may be flushed out;

The washer described will be supported upon a suitable base and will beprovided with manscription. In its course the gas is subjected in thechamber 1 to alternate expansions and contractions, is thoroughlysprayed with water, and must pass through the several sheets of waterfalling from one baffle-plate to the next. In the horizontal chamber3 itis subjected to the further scrubbing action of the plates 20 and jetscoming from the spraypipes 21. upward course through the chamber 2 itwill be subjected to the drying action of the baffleplates 26 and tubes31. Should, however, the gas be very dirty, it may be subjected tospiral bafl'le-plates 26, and in that event it will be dried by theheated tubes 31 and, if necessary, further dried by the heated jacket35. All impurities in the water will be carried down into the base ofthe chamber 3. The light impurities will flow 01f through the opening36, while the heavier ones'will settle to the bottom, whence they can beperiodically removed by opening the valves 51. The water-level isautomatically maintained and a complete seal is provided by the door 40.

' No brick or other similar material is used in the washer; but theconstruction is entirely metallic, and all surfaces are smooth and havea downward slope, so that the dirt and water can find lodgment only inthe bottom.

Generally this suffices, and in the tus will be understood from theforegoing defurther washing while passing through the There ispractically nothing in the device which can get out of repair or workingorder, and the construction is such that any repairs that becomenecessary can be readily made and without stopping the apparatus. YVhennecessary, the spray-pipes can be taken out and replaced, and they canbe kept clean by merely blowing the dirt out of them, as can be done byopening the valves at their lower ends. It is impossible for thespraypipes or other parts to become clogged with dirt.

What I claim is-- 1. In a gas-washer, the. combination of a chamberhaving a gas-inlet and a gas-outlet, baffie-plates in said chambers soarranged as to cause alternate contractions and expansions of the gas,means. for -spraying water onto said bafiie-plates, a series ofvertically-arrangedscrubber-plates in the bottom-of said chamber, andmeans for spraying water onto said scrubber-plates. I

2. In agas-washer,thc combination of a vershaped and conicalbafile-plates arranged alv ternately and oppositely at the, outer wallsand center of said chamberto cause alternate expansions and contractionsof the gas, means for spraying water ontosaid bafiie-plates. a secondchamber connected to the bottom of said vertical chamber, and a seriesof spirallytical chamber having a gas-inlet at the top and a gas-outletfrom the bottom, baffle-plates arranged in said chamber, a perforatedpipe arranged'vertically in said'chamber to spray water onto saidbaffle-plates, and a plate arranged underneath the head of said chamberand below an opening or openingsin the spraypipe, whereby the top ofsaid chamber will be kept cool. i

4. In a gas-washer, the combination ofa vertical chamber having agas-inlet at the top and a gas-outlet from the bottom, a series ofbaffle-plates in said chamber, means for spraying water onto saidbaflle-plates, a series of vertically-arranged scrubbereplates in thebottom of said chamber, and spray-pipesextending .across saidscrubber-plates.

5. In agas-washer, the combination of a'vertical chamber provided with agas-inlet at the top, aseries of baflie-plates projecting into saidchamber, means for spraying water onto said baffle-plates, a horizontalchamber communicating at one end with the lower end of theverticalchamber and having a gas-outlet from its opposite'end,vertically-arranged scrubberplates extending longitudinally ,of saidhorizontal chamber, and spray-pipes extending 1 across saidscrubber-plates. s

6. Inagas-washer, the combination of a vertlcal chamber hav ng agas-lnlet at its upper end, basin-shaped and conical baflie-platesarranged alternately and oppositely at the walls and center of saidchamber, a perforated pipe arranged vertically in the center of saidchain- 'berha horizontal chamber communicating at one end with the lowerend of said vertical chamber and having a gas-outlet from its oppositeend, vertically r arranged scrubberplates .in said horizontal chamberand extending longitudinally thereof, and spray-pipes extending acrosssaid scrubberplates.

7 In a gas-washer, the combination of two vertical chamberscommunicating with each other at their lower ends, a gas-inlet at theupper end of one of said chambers and a gas-out- ..let from the upperend of the other chamber,

a series of bafiie-plates in the inlet-chamber, means for spraying wateronto said baffleplates, and spirally-arranged baffle-plates in theoutlet-chamber.

8. In a gas-washer, the combination of two vertical chamberscommunicating attheir lower. ends. a gasrinlet into the upper end of oneof said chambers, and a gas-outlet 'from' the upper end of the otherchamber, a series of baffle-plates in the inlet-chamber arranged tocause alternate expansions and contractions of the gas passingtherethrough, means for spraying water onto said battle-plates, and

spirally-arranged baffle-plates in the outletchamber. l

, 9. In a gas-washer, the combination of two vertical chamberscommunicating at their lower ends, a gas-inlet into the upper end of oneof said chambers and a gas-outlet from the upper end of the otherchamber, basinshaped and conical bafHeplates arranged alternately andoppositely at thewalls and center of the inlet-chamber, a perforatedspray-pipe arranged vertically at the center of said chamber, andspirally-arranged baffle-plates in the outlet-chamber.-

- 10. In a gas-washer, the combination of two vertical chambers, agas-inlet into the top of one of said chambers and a gas-outlet from thetop of the other chamber, a horizontallyarranged chamberconnecting thelower ends 'of the two vertical chambers, baffle-platesfin theinlet-chamber, means for'spraying water onto said baffle-plates,vertically -arranged scrubber-plates in the horizontal chamber andextending longitudinally thereof, means for spraying water onto thesame, and gas-drying means in the outlet-chamber.

11. In agas-Washer, the combination of two vertical chambers, agas-inlet into the upper end of one of saidchambers and a gas-outletfrom the upper end of the other chamber, a horizontally+arranged chamberconnecting the lower ends of said vertical chambers, basinshaped andconical baflIe-plates arranged alternately and oppositely at the wallsand center of inlet-chamber, a perforated spray-pipe arranged verticallyand centrally in said chamber, vertically-arranged scrubber-plates inthe horizontal chamber and extending longitudinally thereof, spray-pipesextending across said scrubber-plates, and gas-drying-means in theoutlet-chamber; I

12. In a gas-washer, the combination of a chamber provided withagas-inlet, baflie-walls therein, means for spraying water onto the same,asecond chambercommunicating with said first-named chamber and providedwith a gas-outlet, and heated drying means in said second chamber.

13." In a gas-washer, the combination of two vertical chamberscommunicating at their lower ends,- a gas-inlet into the upper end ofone of said chambers and a gas-outlet from the upper end of the otherchamber, baflile-plates arranged in the inlet-chamber to cause alternateexpansions andvcontractions-ofthe gas, means for ,spraying water ontosaid baffleplates, a series of drying-tubesin the outletchamber, andmeans for heating-said tubes.

' 14. Inagas-wa'sher, the combination of two vertical chamberscommunicating at their lower ends, a gas inlet into the upper end of oneof said chambers and a gas-outlet from the upper end of the otherchamber, a series of bathe-plates in theinlet-chamber, means forspraying water onto said plates, a pair of heads or Walls extendingacross the outlet-chamber,

tubes extending through said heads or walls,

a 15. In a gas-washer, the combination of two Vertical chamberscommunicating at their lower ends, a gas-inlet into the upper end of oneof said chambers and a gas-outlet from the upper end of the otherchamber, baffle-plates in the inlet-chamber, means for spraying wateronto said baflie-plates, and a series of spirallyarranged bafiie-platesinthe outlet-chamber.

' 16. In agas-washer, the combination of two vertical chamberscommunicating at their lower ends, a gas-inlet into the upper end of oneof said chambers and a gas-outlet from the upper end of the otherchamber, baffle-plates in the inlet-chambenmeans for spraying water ontosaid bafiie-plates, and a series of spirallyarranged baflie-plates inthe outlet-chamber,

said baffle-plates having down wardly-project- 'ing gutters at theirupper edges.

'17. In a gas-washer, the combination of ascrubbing-chamber,achambercommunicating therewith, a series ofspirally-arranged plates therein, and heated drying means in saidchamber above said spirally-arranged plates.

18. In a gas-washer, the combination of ascrubbing-chamber,achambercommunicating therewith, a series ofspirally-arranged plates in said second chamber and provided withdownwardly-directed gutters at their upper edges, and heated drier-tubesarranged above said spiral plates.

19. In a gas;washer, the combination of a scrubbing-chambena secondchamber communicating therewith, heated d rying-pipes therein, anoutlet-pipe from said chamber, and a heated jacket in said pipe.

20. In agas-washer, the combination of two vertical chambers,a'gas-inlet in the upper end of one of said chambers and a gas-outletfrom the upper end of the other chamber, a horizontal chamber connectingthe lower ends of said vertical chambers, baffle-plates in theinlet-chamber, means for spraying water onto said plates,scrubber-plates arranged vertically and extendinglongitudinally in saidhorizontal chamber, means for spraying water on said scrubber-plates,and a series of spirallyarranged bafiie-plates in the outlet-chamber.

21. In a gas-washer, the combination of two vertical chambers, agas-inlet into the upper end of one of said chambers and a gas-outletfrom the upper end of the other chamber, a horizontal chamber connectingthe lower ends of said vertical chambers, a series of bafiie-v plates inthe inlet-chamber, means for sprayingwater onto said plates, a series ofvertically-arranged plates in the/horizontal chamber and extendinglongitudinally thereof, means for spraying water onto saidscrubberplates, and a series of spirally-arranged baffleplates in theoutlet-chamber and provided at their upper edges withdownwardly-directed gutters. i

22. In a gas-washer, the combination with two vertical chambers, agas-inlet into the upper end of one of said chambers and a gasoutletfrom the upper end of the other chamber, a horizontal chamber connectingthe lower ends of said vertical chambers, bafile-plates in theinlet-chamber, means for sprayingwater onto said baflie-plates, verticalscrubber-plates in the horizontal chamber and extending longitudinall ythereof, means for spraying water onto said scrubber-plates,spirally-arranged bafiie-plates in the outlet-chamber, and heateddrier-tn bee in said chamber above said spiral bathe-plates.

23. In a gas-washer, the combination of two vertical chamberscommunicating at their lower ends, a gas-inlet into the upper end of oneof said chambers and a gas-outlet from the upper end of the otherchamber, baflleplates arranged in both of said chambers, and perforatedpipes arranged vertically in both of said chambers.

24. In a gas-washer, the combination of two vertical chamberscommunicating at their lower ends, a gas-inlet into the upper end of oneof said chambers and a gas-outlet from the upper end of the otherchamber, basinshaped and conical bathe-plates arranged alternately andoppositely at the walls and center of the inlet-chamber, a perforatedpipe arranged vertically and horizontally in said chamber, spiralbattle-plates in the outletchamber, and a perforated pipe arrangedvertically and centrally in said chamber.

25. In a gas-washer, the combination of two vertical chamberscommunicating at their lower ends, a gas-inlet into the upper end of onechamber and a gas-outlet from the upper end of the other chamber,baffle-plates in the inlet-chamber, means for spraying water onto saidbaflle-plates, spirally-arranged plates in the lower portion of theother chamber, a perforated pipe arranged vertically in said chamber,and heated drier-tubes in the upper portion of said chamber.

26. In a gas-washer, the combination of two vertical chambers, agas-inlet into the upper end of one chamber and a gas-outlet from theupper end of the other chamber, scrubbing means in the inlet-chamber,gas-drying means in the oulet-chamber, a horizontal chamber connectingthe lower ends of said vertical chambers and having an overflow-outletat one end, and jets projecting through the opposite end of said chamberand applied at the surface of the water and directed toward theoverflowopening.

27. In a gas-washer, the combination .with two vertical chambers, agas-inlet into the upper end of one chamber and a gas-outlet from theupperend of the other chamber, scrubbing one end, a gate for controllingsaid opening, and jets projecting of the chamber and applied at thesurface of the water and directed toward the overflowopening.

28. in a gas-washer, the combination of a vertical scrubbing chamber, acollectingchamber at the bottom thereof provided with a trough or hopperbottom, cleaning-va lves in through the opposite end l anoverflow-opening at one side 10 of said chamber, end it seal for closingsaid opening.

in testimony WhereofLthe seiid PATRICK MEEHAN, have hereunto set mybend. PATRJICK MN. Witnesses:

Ur. H. RANKIN, F. W. WINTER.

I said bottom,

